You can't deny the fact that Escape from Pretoria is a neat little jailbreak thriller, but it could have been so much more had more light been thrown on the film's lead characters. These guys have essential roles in apartheid history. The impact of their escape could have had a much greater payoff if writer-director Francis Annan had given us more character development. That's what makes good thrillers great: giving audiences reasons to care for the protagonists to succeed, even if they're doing something illegal. Escape from Pretoria is tremendous fun to watch, especially in its final 30 minutes, when the actual jailbreak is in progress.
For a good portion of the first two acts, the makers focus solely on the aspect of trial & error key-making. Radcliffe (as Tim Jenkin) is the clear main-man here, with Webber (as Stephen Lee) playing more of a side-kick role. Mark Leonard Winter (as Leonard Fontaine) rounds off the lead trio, remarkably showcasing his desperation to escape. The thrills are effectively placed and shot, with David Hirschfelder's score raising the stakes during tension-filled scenes. While it's a far from perfect jailbreak thriller, Escape from Pretoria manages to retain your attention all through and delivers a mostly enjoyable fare.
